Switchable combiner and integrated combining apparatus for using it

ABSTRACT

A switchable combiner and apparatus for providing intergrated combiner unit, which can reduce problem due to frequent substitution of unit. The apparatus for providing intergrated combiner unit includes the means of; a) dividing input signal according to basic type, redundancy type or power division/coupling type; b) switching the transmitted signal to power amplifier; c) switching the transmitted signal to the means of combining; and d) combining the transmitted signal according to basic type, redundancy type or power division/coupling type.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a switchable combiner and an integratedcombining apparatus using the switchable combiner; and, moreparticularly, to a switchable combiner used in a transmission system ofa base station in a mobile communication system, and an integratedcombining apparatus using the switchable combiner.

BACKGROUND ART

Cost is one of the factors that determines the quality of service in theoperation of a base station. When the number of subscribers is small inthe initial days, a base station uses a basic type of switchablecombiner or a redundancy type of switchable combiner.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams describing conventional basic andredundancy-type switchable combiners, respectively. As shown in thedrawings, the conventional basic and redundancy-type switchablecombiners include a plurality of power amplifiers 110, input ports 120and output ports 130. In the basic-type combiner of FIG. 1A, the inputsand outputs of the power amplifier 110 are connected one to one to eachother with a radio frequency (RF) cable so that an input should becorresponded to an output.

The redundancy-type switchable combiner, as shown in FIG. 1B, has 4:3switches in the input and output ports 120 and 130. Therefore, eventhough one of the three power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 performsmalfunction, the base station can be operated normally without beingbroken down by switching on a route to a redundancy amplifier 116.

In FIG. 1B, the power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 perform normaloperation and the switches A, B and C are turned on among the 4:3switches of the input and output ports 120 and 130. The switches A, Band C transmit an RF signal to the out ports 131, 133 and 135.

If one of the power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 performs malfunction,for example, the power amplifier 113 is assumed to perform malfunction,the switch B corresponding to the power amplifier 113 is turned off atthe same time, and it is connected to a redundancy port E. Thus, thereserve power amplifier 116 is operated to maintain the system normal.In this manner, when the combiner is operated in the redundancy type,only three input and output ports are used.

The basic and redundancy types of switchable combiners can be used inthe early days when the number of subscribers is small. However, whenthe number of subscribers becomes large, these types of switchablecombiners cannot be used any more due to the low transmission power. Tosolve this problem, a power dividing/coupling type of switchablecombiner is used to increase the transmission power suitably for theincreased number of subscribers.

FIG. 1C shows a conventional power dividing/coupling type of switchablecombiner. As illustrated in the drawing, the conventional powerdividing/coupling type of switchable combiner includes a plurality ofpower amplifiers 110, a switchable divider 140 and a switchable combiner150, and the switchable combiner 150 sums up the outputs of two poweramplifiers. Therefore, it can produce an output power twice as high asit used to produce with one power amplifier, whereby it can deal withthe increased subscribers. However, if a base station uses a basic-typecombiner of FIG. 1A or a redundancy-type combiner of FIG. 1B in theinitial time and then when the number of subscribers is increased,adopts a power dividing/coupling-type combiner of FIG. 1C to accommodatemore channel for the increased subscriber, the cost for changing thecombiner becomes a burden on the system operator.

Meanwhile, the switchable combiner 150 is a two-way switchable combiner.When both of the switches A and B are power-on, the switchable combiner150 is operated in two ways. Otherwise, when only one switch of them ispower-on, the switchable combiner 150 is operated in one way.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram describing a conventional switchablecombiner adopting an average matching method. As shown in the drawing,the conventional switchable combiner is what a switching function isadded to a Wilkinson divider. The conventional switchable combiner isoperated as described below.

Signals inputted to the input ports P_(in1) and P_(in2) are outputtedthrough average matching lines 210 to an output port P_(out). Here, theinputted signals receive a control signal for controlling the number ofpower amplifiers to be operated in the base station system, anddetermine to operate the combiner in one way or two ways based on thenumber of power amplifiers determined to be operated above.

Accordingly, when two power amplifiers are operated in the base stationsystem, it means that the switches S₁₁ and S₂₁ and the switches S₁₂ andS₂₂ of the switchable combiner are power-on simultaneously and theswitchable combiner is operated as a two-way combiner. When one poweramplifier connected to the input port P_(in1) is operated, it means thatthe switches S₁₁ and S₂₁ of the switchable combiner are power-on, andthe other switches S₁₂ and S₂₂ become power-off. Thus, the switchablecombiner is operated as a one-way combiner. Here, impedance Z_(m) of theaverage matching line 210 is a value between the one-way combination andthe two-way combination, and it is obtained from Equation 1 below.

$\begin{matrix}{Z_{m} = {\frac{Z_{0}}{2}\left( {\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{1}} \right)}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{20mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

However, the above average matching method raises a serious problem thatreflection loss and insertion loss are increased.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aswitchable combiner that can minimize route-based insertion loss bysetting up a matching unit for two-way combination and then using anopen stub and a short stub for the combination of the other routenumbers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an integratedcombining apparatus using a switchable combiner that can relieve theburden of additional installation of combiner, which is caused by theincrease in subscribers, by accommodating all the functions of basic,redundancy and power dividing/coupling-type combiners.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a switchable combiner for minimizing route-based disparity ininsertion loss, including: first and second input ports for transmittinginputted signals; first and second lines connected to the first andsecond input ports, respectively, for transmitting the inputted signals;a common contact point for combining the signals transmitted from thefirst and second lines; first and second switching unit for switchingthe common contact point with the first and second lines based on thenumber of routes; a third line for receiving a signal outputted from thecommon contact point and transmitting the signal to an output port; theoutput port for outputting the signal transmitted from the third line; athird switching unit for switching the third line and a short stub; anopen stub connected to the third line for setting up matching conditionwith respect to the maximum route number; and the short stub forperforming matching with respect to the route numbers other than themaximum route number.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an integrated combining apparatus using the switchablecombiner, which can be used in a basic, redundancy or powerdividing/coupling type to control the signals outputted from a pluralityof power amplifiers, including: a plurality of switchable dividers fordividing an inputted signal based on the basic, redundancy or powerdividing/coupling type of combiner; a first N:N switching unit (N beingan integer) for receiving signals outputted from the switchable dividersand transmitting the signals to the power amplifiers; a second N:Nswitching unit (N being an integer) for receiving signals outputted fromhigh power amplifiers and transmitting the signals to the switchablecombiners; and the plurality of switchable combiners for receivingsignals outputted from the second N:N switching unit and combining thesignals based on the basic, redundancy or power dividing/coupling typeof combiner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram describing a conventional basic type ofswitchable combiner;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional redundancytype of switchable combiner;

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing a conventional powerdividing/coupling type of switchable combiner;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram describing a conventional switchablecombiner;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a switchable combiner inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating impedance of two-way combination,shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing impedance of one-way combination, shown inFIG. 3, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an integrated combining apparatususing a switchable combiner in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram describing a basic-type operation of theintegrated combining apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram showing a redundancy-type operation ofthe integrated combining apparatus of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram illustrating a dividing/coupling-typeoperation of the integrated combining apparatus of FIG. 5.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which is set forth hereinafter.

(1^(st) Embodiment)

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a switchable combiner inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustratedin the drawing, the switchable combiner of the present inventionincludes first lines 310, a common contact point 320, a second line 330,an open stub 340 and a short stub 350. It further includes first andsecond input ports P_(in1), and P_(in2), an output port P_(out), andswitches S₁, S₂ and S₃.

When the number of routes is two, signals are inputted to the first andsecond input ports P_(in1), and P_(in2), and thus the switches S₁ and S₂become power-on. The inputted signals are transmitted through the firstlines 310, and combined in the common contact point 320. Here, thesecond line 330 and the open stub 340 are connected to each otheralways. This minimizes the route-based disparity in insertion loss bysetting up matching conditions first with respect to the combination ofthe maximum route number, i.e., two-way combination, and then performmatching with respect to the combination of the other route numbersusing the short stub 350. It also improves the phase disparity betweenthe input ports.

The lengths of the second line 330 and the open stub 340 play animportant role in the impedance matching of two-way combination. Theelectric length L₁ of the second line 330 can be obtained from Equation2 shown below.

$\begin{matrix}{{{L_{1}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {\tan^{- 1}t}},{t = \frac{X_{L} \pm \sqrt{{R_{L}\left\lbrack {\left( {Z_{0} - R_{L}} \right)^{2} + X_{L}^{2}} \right\rbrack}/Z_{0}}}{R_{L} - Z_{0}}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{20mu} 2}\end{matrix}$Here, when Z₀=50, X_(L)=0, and R_(L)=25Ω (since it is two-waycombination, 50/2=25Ω), L₁ comes to 34.89 deg.

The physical length of the transmission line may be different based onthe dielectric constant of a dielectric substance included in thetransmission line. When air, whose dielectric constant is 1, is used asa dielectric substance, and the frequency in use is 1,855 MHz, theactual physical length becomes around 16 mm.

With reference to FIG. 4A, impedance of the second line 330 is describedherein. It uses the length L₁ obtained from Equation 2.

FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating impedance of two-way combination,shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention. Pi having an impedance of 25Ω is marked in a Smith chartfirst, and then it is moved onto a transmission line having an impedanceof 50Ω as much as the length L₁ (L₁=34.89 deg), which is a point P₂.

The electric length L₂ of the open stub 340 can be calculated fromEquation 3 below.

$\begin{matrix}{{{L_{2}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{B_{0}}{Y_{0}} \right)}},{B = \frac{{R_{L}^{2}t} - {\left( {Z_{0} - {X_{L}t}} \right)\left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)}}{Z_{0}\left\lbrack {R_{L}^{2} + \left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}},{B_{0} = {- B}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{20mu} 3}\end{matrix}$Here, B denotes a susceptance and B₀ stands for a susceptance of thestub. Therefore, the electric length L₂ of the open stub 340 is obtainedto be 34.89 deg (L₂=34.89 deg) from Equation 3, when Z₀=50, X_(L)=0, andR_(L)=25 Ω. If the dielectric constant is 1 and the frequency in use is1,855 MHz, the actual physical length is about 16 mm.

When the point P₂, which is moved by the second line 330 in FIG. 4A, ismoved as much as the length L₂ (=34.89 deg), it becomes a point P₃. Thisway, the impedance of the open stub 340 is matched.

Meanwhile, when the number of routes to be combined is one way and asignal is inputted to the first input port P_(in1), the switch S₁becomes power-on and the switch S₂ becomes power-off. Therefore, thesignal is transmitted through the first line 310 alone, which isconnected to the first input port P_(in1).

The second line 330 and the open stub 340 are connected to each otheralways. This is to minimize the route-based disparity in insertion lossand improve the phase disparity between input ports by setting up amatching condition first with respect to the maximum route number, i.e.,two-way, and performing matching on the combination of the other routenumbers using the short stub 350.

In case of one-way combination, the switch S₃ is power-on for impedancematching and the short stub 350 is grounded. The lengths of the secondline 330 and the open stub 340 are as described above, and the electriclength L₃ of the short stub 350 can be obtained from Equation 4 below.

$\begin{matrix}{{{L_{3}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {- {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{Y_{0}}{B_{S}} \right)}}},{B = \frac{{R_{L}^{2}t} - {\left( {Z_{0} - {X_{L}t}} \right)\left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)}}{Z_{0}\left\lbrack {R_{L}^{2} + \left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}},{B_{S} = {- B}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{20mu} 4}\end{matrix}$Here, B denotes a susceptance and B_(S) stands for a susceptance of theshort stub. Therefore, the electric length L₃ of the short stub 350shown in FIG. 3 is obtained to be 50.9 deg (L₃=50.9 deg) from Equation4. If the dielectric constant is 1 and the frequency in use is 1,855MHz, the actual physical length is about 23.5 mm.

FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an impedance of one-way combination, shownin FIG. 3, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.First, a point P₁ having an impedance of 50 Ω is marked on the Smithchart, and then moved as much as the length L₃ (L₃=50.9 deg), whichbecomes a point P₂.

When the switch S₃ is turned on and the short stub is grounded, thepoint P₂ is moved back to the point P₁ (=P₃) whose impedance is 50 Ω.This way, impedance is matched with respect to the short stub. Here, theactual physical lengths l_(L1), l_(L2) and l_(L3) obtained from theelectric lengths L₁, L₂ and L₃ expressed as degree, i.e., deg, aredifferent depending on the frequency band in use. The weighting factorwith respect to the frequency factor corresponding thereto can bedetermined from Equation 5 shown below.

$\begin{matrix}{{l_{L1} = \frac{\lambda\; L_{1}}{360}},{l_{L2} = \frac{\lambda\; L_{2}}{360}},{l_{L3} = {\frac{\lambda\; L_{3}}{360}\mspace{14mu}\left( {\lambda = \frac{c}{\sqrt{ɛ_{r}f}}} \right)}}} & {{Eq}.\mspace{20mu} 5}\end{matrix}$where ∈_(r) is a dielectric constant of a dielectric substance includedin the transmission line.

Although the present invention describes a two-way switchable combiner,it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to a two-way combination, but it can beextended or applied diversely based on the technological concept byvarying the length of the open stub and/or short stub based on Equation2 to 4.

The switchable combiner of the present invention can minimize theroute-based disparity in insertion loss by setting up a matching unitfirst with respect to a two-way combination, and then for thecombination of the other route numbers, controlling the combinationusing the open stub and/or short stub. It can also improve the phasedisparity between input ports by setting up a matching unit first withrespect to a two-way combination, and then for the combination of theother route numbers, controlling the combination using the open stuband/or short stub.

(2^(nd) Embodiment)

An integrated combining apparatus using a switchable combiner of thepresent invention is described herein in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an integrated combining apparatususing a switchable combiner in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention. As shown in the drawing, the combining apparatus ofthe present invention includes a plurality of power amplifiers 110, anoutput 4:4 switch 510, a switchable combiner 520, an input 4:4 switch530, and a switchable divider 540.

The switchable combiner 520 is the same as described above withreference to FIG. 3, and the switchable divider 540 used here is aconventional low-power switching divider using a pin diode. So, furtherdetailed description on them will be omitted herein. Also, since it isobvious to those skilled in the art the present invention belongs tothat the output 4:4 switch 510, switchable combiner 520, input 4:4switch 530, and the switchable divider 540 are operated by directcurrent supplied thereto and switched by an external control signal, anydescription on them will be omitted herein, too.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic diagrams describing basic, redundancy anddividing/coupling-type operation of the integrated combining apparatusof FIG. 5.

First, when the integrated combining apparatus is operated in a basictype, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the switches A, B, C and D of the input4:4 switch 530 and the output 4:4 switch 510 are all turned on. Theswitches F and H of the two-way switchable divider 530 and switchablecombiner 520 are turned on, while the switch G is turned off.Accordingly, the input port, the power amplifier and the output port arecorresponded in the forms of 121-111-131, 122-112-132, 123-113-133,124-114-134, 125-115-135 and 126-116-136.

When the integrated combining apparatus is operated in a redundancytype, as shown in FIG. 6B, the power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 areused during normal operation. If one of the power amplifiers performsmalfunction, one of the switches A, B and C is connected to an E port,and the reserve power amplifier 116 is operated. Except the switchabledividers and combiners connected to the route where malfunction is made,the switches G and H of the other dividers and combiners are turned off,while the switch F becomes power-on.

Referring to FIG. 6B, it shows malfunction of the power amplifier 111.Here, the switch A is connected to the E port to operate the reservepower amplifier 116, and the switch G of the remaining dividers andcombiners, except the switchable dividers and combiners connected to thepower amplifier 111 that has performed malfunction, is turned off, andthe switches F and H are turned on. Accordingly, signal paths of theinput port, power amplifier and output port are corresponded in theforms of 121-116-131, 122-112-132, 123-113-133, 124-114-134 and125-115-135.

Also, when the integrated combining apparatus is operated in adividing/coupling type, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the switches A, B, Cand D are all power-on, and the switch H is power-off all the time.

As described above, the outputs of the power amplifiers 111, 112, 113,114 and 115 are used being combined with the output of the reserve poweramplifier 116. When the outputs of the power amplifiers 111 and 112 arenot combined and used in one-way, only one of the switches F and G isturned on. For example, if the power amplifier 111 is used, the switch Fis turned on, and the switch G is turned off. If the power amplifier 112is used, the switch F is turned off, and the switch G is turned on.

The present invention can improve the efficiency of system operation,while accommodating the functions of the conventional three types ofcombiners.

Although 4:4 switches are used as input/output switches in theembodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilledin the art of the present invention that N:N switches (N being aninteger) could be used.

Since the technology of the present invention incorporates all thefunctions of basic, redundancy and power dividing/coupling types in onecombining unit, it can accommodate the increase in subscribers withoutchanging the unit.

While the present invention has been described with respect to certainpreferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

1. A switchable combiner for minimizing route-based disparity ininsertion loss, comprising: first and second input ports fortransmitting inputted signals; first and second lines connected to thefirst and second input ports, respectively, for transmitting theinputted signals; a common contact point for combining the signalstransmitted from the first and second lines; first and second switchingmeans, respectively, for switching the common contact point with thefirst and second lines based on a number of routes; a third lineconnected between the common contact point and an output port forreceiving a signal outputted from the common contact point andtransmitting the signal to the output port; the output port connected tothe third line for outputting the signal transmitted from the thirdline; a third switching means for switching the third line and a shortstub; an open stub connected to the third line for setting up matchingcondition with respect to a maximum route number; and the short stub forperforming matching with respect to route numbers other than the maximumroute number, wherein an end of the short stub is connected to a ground,and the other end of the short stub is connected to the third line. 2.The switchable combiner as recited in claim 1, wherein an electriclength of the third line is obtained from an equation as:${{L_{1}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {\tan^{- 1}t}},{t = \frac{X_{L} \pm \sqrt{{R_{L}\left\lbrack {\left( {Z_{0} - R_{L}} \right)^{2} + X_{L}^{2}} \right\rbrack}/Z_{0}}}{R_{L} - Z_{0}}},$where L₁ denotes an electric length of the third line.
 3. The switchablecombiner as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric length of the openstub is obtained from an equation as:${{L_{2}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{B_{0}}{Y_{0}} \right)}},{B = \frac{{R_{L}^{2}t} - {\left( {Z_{0} - {X_{L}t}} \right)\left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)}}{Z_{0}\left\lbrack {R_{L}^{2} + \left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}},{B_{0} = {- B}},$where L₂ denotes an electric length of the open stub, B denotes asusceptance, and B₀ denotes an open stub susceptance.
 4. The switchablecombiner as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric length of the openstub is obtained from an equation as:${{L_{3}\left\lbrack \deg \right\rbrack} = {- {\tan^{- 1}\left( \frac{Y_{0}}{B_{S}} \right)}}},{B = \frac{{R_{L}^{2}t} - {\left( {Z_{0} - {X_{L}t}} \right)\left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)}}{Z_{0}\left\lbrack {R_{L}^{2} + \left( {X_{L} + {Z_{0}t}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}},{B_{S} = {- B}},$where L₃ denotes an electric length of the short stub, B denotes asusceptance, and B_(s) denotes a short stub susceptance.
 5. Theswitchable combiner as recited in claim 2, wherein a physical length ofthe third line, the open stub and the short stub are calculated from anequation as:${l_{L1} = \frac{\lambda\; L_{1}}{360}},{l_{L2} = \frac{\lambda\; L_{2}}{360}},{l_{L3} = {\frac{\lambda\; L_{3}}{360}\mspace{14mu}\left( {\lambda = \frac{c}{\sqrt{ɛ_{r}f}}} \right)}}$where IL₁ denotes a physical length of the third line, lL₂ denotes aphysical length of the open stub, lL₃ denotes a physical length of theshort stub, L₁ denotes a physical length of the third lines, L₂ denotesa physical length of the open stub, and L₃ denotes an electric length ofthe short stub.
 6. An integrated combining apparatus comprising: aplurality of switchable dividers connected to an input port for dividingan inputted signal based on a basic, redundancy or powerdividing/coupling type of combiner; a first N:N switching means (N beingan integer) connected between the switchable dividers and a plurality ofpower amplifiers for receiving signals outputted from the switchabledividers and transmitting the signals to the power amplifiers; a secondN:N switching means (N being an integer) connected between the poweramplifiers and a plurality of switchable combiners for receiving signalsoutputted from high power amplifiers and transmitting the signals to theswitchable combiners; and the plurality of switchable combinersconnected between the second switching means and an output port forreceiving signals outputted from the second N:N switching means andcombining the signals based on the basic, redundancy or powerdividing/coupling type of combiners, wherein the plurality of switchablecombiners include: first and second input ports for transmittinginputted signals; first and second lines connected to the first andsecond input ports, respectively, for transmitting the inputted signals;a common contact point for combining the signals transmitted from thefirst and second lines; first and second switching means, respectively,for switching the common contact point with the first and second linesbased on a number of routes; a third line connected between the commoncontact point and an output port for receiving a signal outputted fromthe common contact point and transmitting the signal to the output port;the output port connected to the third line for outputting the signaltransmitted from the third line; a third switching means for switchingthe third line and a short stub; an open stub connected to the thirdline for setting up matching condition with respect to a maximum routenumber; and the short stub for performing matching with respect to routenumbers other than the maximum route number, wherein an end of the shortstub is connected to a ground, and the other end of the short stub isconnected to the third line.
 7. The integrated combining apparatus asrecited in claim 6, wherein when the integrated combining apparatus isoperated in the basic type, the first and second N:N switches areoperated N:N, and each of switchable deviders and combiners has a routenumber of one.
 8. The integrated combining apparatus as recited in claim6, wherein when the integrated combining apparatus is operated in theredundancy type, the first and second N:N are operated N:(N-1), and eachof switchable dividers and combiners has a route number of one.
 9. Theintegrated combining apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein when theintegrated combining apparatus is operated in the dividing/couplingtype, the first and second N:N switches are operated N:N, and each ofswitchable dividers and combiners has a route number of two.